DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Former prime minister and head of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party Shahid Khagan Abbasi said here on Friday that the opposition in the Centre was not currently preparing for any political movement against the federal government.

He was talking to reporters after meeting JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence here.

The former premier along with former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Mahtab Ahmad Khan exchanged Eid greetings with Mr Fazl and discussed with him the prevailing political situation in the country and regional issues.

JUI-F leaders Maulana Lutufur Rehman, Maulana Obaidur Rehman, Kafil Nizami and Israr Marwat were also present.

Earlier, Mr Abbasi attended the wedding reception for Malik Shahroz, son of PML-N Dera Ismail Khan president Prince Malik Rehan, here.

`Our immediate priority is to unify the opposition and bring all parties to one platform. Just as the government has been inactive over the last year, the opposition is also fragmented,` Mr Abbasi said.

The former prime minister noted that efforts were under way to bridge differences among opposition parties and foster a collective political strategy.

`Once there is consensus and unity, only then should we consider initiatinga movement against the government, Mr Abbasi said. `Some progress has been made in this direction, but significant challenges remain,` he said.

Mr Abbasi said holding negotiations directly with Afghanistan fell in the domain of the federal government and not any provincial administration`s.

`Relations between two countries are a matter of state-to-state diplomacy, so provincial involvement in such sensitive foreign affairs could complicate matters rather than resolve them,` he said.

The prime minister said the recent decrease in electricity prices was directly linked to the fall in global petroleum prices.

`If fuel prices rise again tomorrow, electricity will become expensive,` he said, urging the government to provide a long-term and sustainable solution to the energy crisis.

On the political situation inBalochistan, Mr Abbasi said the province`s issues were not isolated or tribal in nature and instead, they showed the overall governance crisis in the country.

`Rigged elections lead to political instability and division,` he said.

The former prime minister said the people of Balochistan deserved economic uplift, dignity, representation and controlovertheirresources.

He added that those demands were not unique to Balochistan-people from otherparts ofthe country also calledfor the same rights.

Mr Abbasi criticised the National Accountability Bureau`s performance and insisted not a single case, made by thebureauinthelast25years,hadbeen held up in the court of law.

`All cases against political leaders, including those against Imran Khan, are politically motivated and have failed to produce convictions,` he said.About the recent national security conference, the former prime minister lamented the absence of PTI members from the event.

`For such a conference to be meaningful, the presence of all major political players is necessary. The government should have facilitated detained PTI founder Imran Khan`s attendance-even on parole if it was necessary. On the other hand, Imran Khan should also have shown a magnanimous spirit and allowed party participation.

Unfortunately, the prevailing atmosphere of political division prevents us from achieving national consensus,` he said.

Regarding the repatriation of Afghan refugees, Mr Abbasi expressed strong reservations about the government`s decision.

`This is not a matter to be handled unilaterally. It requires national debate and a long-term vision. Many Afghan refugees have lived in Pakistan since 1979. Their children were born here, they run businesses, and are integrated into our society,` he said.

The former prime minister urged the federal government to review that policy, differentiate between documented and undocumented refugees, and consider the humanitarian, social and historical aspects before making such `sweeping decisions.

`A debate in parliament could lead to a more balanced and humane policy, he said.

Mr Abbasi said Pakistan faced serious internal and external challenges, which required national unity, democratic stability and political dialogue.

`There is no solution to our national problems outside of politics-and certainly no substitute for collective wisdom and consensus,` he said.